Strive Notes

Title: Managing Editor/Director/Broadcaster

Employer: Pear Publishing

Beat: Worldwide celebrity music, culture and business.

Career highlight: Oh god, I have a few! The first one was when I launched my first celeb mag back in 1997. I was still at university in Swansea. Basically, I was a typical student and I wanted to get into nightclubs/gigs for free and reviewing was the way to go! But also, there were no other cool media outlets in Wales that I could work for, so the answer was to launch my own mag. At the time I thought it was just a normal everyday thing to do… looking back now I was young stupid and completely reckless! The truth is it became an overnight success and it catapulted me into the London media scene.

The other highlight probably sounds very superficial but I’m going to say it anyway…It’s the endless round of after show parties! Even after 11 years, I still get a thrill when I receive my VIP pass. Getting wasted with Hollywood A list babes backstage at Glasto, it doesn’t get much better than that!

Your first job in media: When I was at uni I did a placement at a local newspaper as a typesetter. Then I worked part-time as a media co-ordinator for Radio One. My first full time job was media co-ordinator at Kiss FM.

Your dream job: What I do now! I know it probably sounds a bit cliché but I own my own media company so I get to alter my job to suit my mood which means I’m always doing exactly what I want to do. It’s perfect.

Oddest story you’ve ever covered: Well I work with celebrities a lot so pretty much every story I cover is weird in one way or another. I have to say the weirdest one was quite recently. I went out to the Czech Republic to cover Creamfields Central Europe. The event was hit by a hurricane so I found myself in a field with 40, 000 fans all running for cover from the pieces of equipment all flying off the stage. I ducked for cover under this massive Hummer with some blonde, curly-haired chick. We were talking for a while then some guy asked her for her autograph…turned out she was some famous Czech singer from a drum and bass band, talk about an exclusive!

I hate when PRs: Forget they wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for us. That should really set the cat among the pigeons!

I love when PRs: I really respect their ability to put enthusiasm into even the most mundane of stories. That’s not really a compliment is it? I know…I admire the unnerving way they come to the rescue of their clients’ public persona, even in the face of the most vicious media attacks.

Filed under: Media, public relations